Fire-alarm-telegraph apparatus.



F. W. COLE.

FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH APPABATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 001224, 1908. I

Patented May 25, 1909.

3 3HEETS-SHEET 1'.

' jizaerziqr:

F. W. COLE. FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH APPARATUS.

APPLIOATIQN FILED OOT.24, 196s.

' 923,114.; Patented May-25,1909.

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' fizz/e22 Zora" F. W; COLE;

FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 001224, 1908. 4 923, 1 1 4. Patented May 25, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

l l l l l l l l l ll/v'Znesses; I fizaeiziar,"

i No. 923,114.

I To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

resonate-1; w. corn; or NEWTON, MAssAcHusETTs, ASSIGNOR TO THE. GAMEWELL FIRE- [nun TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OFVNEW YORK, r, A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

FIRE-ALARM-TELEGRAPH APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented May 25, 1909.

Application filed October 24, 1908. Serial No. 459,823.

I Be it known that I, Fnnnanrcn COLE, ofNewton, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in F ire-AlarmsTelegraph Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

. This invention relates to fire-alarm tele graph apparatus, andmore particularly to ;a.fs1gnal-box especially adapted for schoolhouses] and other buildings or industrial plants where a drill-signal in addition to a fire-alarm signal is required.

I r The invention has for its object to provide a signal-box with circuit-operating devices for operating two independent elec trio-circuits. and to] provide an actuating- I device'adapted to'operate both of said cir- 'cuit-operatmg' devices and also to provide an, actuating device independent of the aforesaid actuating-device for Operating one of a said circuit-operating devices independently of the other.

Also to so arrange said I 'actuatingdevices that access may be had to one of them when the box'door is closed and to the other when the box door is open.

I The invention also has for its Object to .providea signal-boxwith means for trans- 'mitting what is herein termed a drill-signal consisting ot a local signal -t-ransm1tter I adapted to operate a circuit containing one or more gongs or other signal-receiving instruments, which are arranged throughout a; building or locality, and also to. provide the signal-box with means for transmitting a fire-alarm signal, consisting of a circu1t-- operating switch adapted to operate an aux- A [iliary circuit by which an auxiliarized fire alarm box may be Operated, and to provide a single actuating-device for operating both the local signal transmitter and the circuit-operating switch, so that by a single operation both the drill-signal and the firealarm signal will be transmitted, and to provide an independent actuating-device for the local signal-transmitter whereby it may be perated independently.

Theinvention also has for its object to arrange, the Y actuating-device winch 15- em- *ployed to' operate both the local signal-transmitter and the circuit-operating switch, on

or adjacent to the door, and in such manner' that it is accessible at the outside thereof of a drill exercise.

awhen the door is closed, so that it may be.

operated without opening the door,'and to arrange an independent actuatingdevice iliarized fire-alarm box and the local alarm throughout the building or locality will be operated, as is required in case of fire, and

upon opening the box door the local signaltransmittermay be operated independent of the auxiliarized fire-alarm box and the local alarm only'transmitted throughout the building or locality, as is. required in case In both cases the same alarm is given throughout the building or locality.

The invention also has for its Object to provide for contrplling the transmission of the signals incident to the operation of both.

the auxiliary-circuitrswitch and the local signal-transmitter by the closing of the hon door, so that when said door is closed the only act whichcanbe performed b the operator results in the transmission 0 both signals.

The invention also has for its object la in improvementsein'the construction of the actuating-means for the local signal-transmitter; also in theactuating-means for the we a circuit-operating switch for the auxiliaryicircuit; and also in the construction ofthe winding-devicewfor the local signal-transmitter.

Figure 1 is afrontelevation of signalbox embodying this invention, it being represented in connection wit-han auxiliary firealarm circuit and with a local alarm. circuit; and having its door open to more fully illustrate the invention. Fig.' 2 is a rear view of the local signal transmitter. F' 3, 4 and 5 are details-Mi bexreferred to. 6 is a modification tohereferred to. Figs. '7 and Sshow a different arrangement of the circuits. v p v e rep psentszdzhe signa-lewheel of the local gongs signal-transmitt er,

case 6 having a door e, and a. a the contact pens which constitute an operating-de- 7 ployed is here shown.

0 represents the winding-shaft the motor which is connected in any suitable manner, as by a ratchet and pawl, (not which is contained in a l l l l i i shown) with a'toothed wheel 6, to the hub l of which oneend of the main spring a is connected, the other end of said spring being connected to a fixed support. a. Said toothed wheel engages, a pinion a secured to a shaft 0 bearing a toothed Wheel 0", 1

which engages a pinion c secured to a' shaft 0 bearlng a toothed wheel 0 wlnch engages a pinion 0 secured to. a shaft 0 bearlng an escape-wheel 0 The signal-wheel (1. is secured to the shaft a. 'The motor is normally wound so that when let off the signal-wheel will he re- Z volved three or more rounds to transmit the when permitted to 'act.

local alarm, and, ashere shown, it 15131- ranged to be manually I signal has been transmitted. To provide for thus arranging the motor a stop pin 0 is arranged on one of the wheels of the tram,

as for instance, on the wheel 0, which, when the motor is wound engages the end of a locking-lever, herein shown as the arm 0 of a bell-crank lever, which 1s pivoted at r;-,

pin 0', see Fig. 2, in the plane of the bell. crank lever, which, when said shaft has been turned by the main spring a predetermined distance and the train has been operated to rotate the signal-wheel a predetermined number of rounds, will. engage the arm 0" of the bell-crank lever'and restore said lever,

moving it into position to be engaged by the s p-pin 0*" on the train. The button 0 1s a'ranged on the front side of the frameplate d, so that when the box door 6 is open it is accessible. Therefore, upon opening the box door 6', the button may be pressed, and the releasing-lever operated to release the locking-lever, thereby permitting it to operate and release the local signal-transmitteryand the local alarm will be transmitted and the gongs or other signal-receiving instruments which are connected in the local signal circuit throughout the building or other locality will be operated. The winding-shaft 0 also extends through the frameplate (Z and its squared end is, therefore, accessible when the box door 6 is open, so that it may be wound by a proper key or handle.

In case the box door has been opened and 1 the vlocal or drill alarm operated it is very nnportant that the local signal-transmitter shall berewound before the box door is i closed, in order that it may at all times be rewound after each i set ready to be operated, after the box door is closed, by other actuating means provided the other arm 0 of said hell-crank lever extending over the free end of a releasinglever herein shown as a s rin -arm ata a tached to the frame at a, see lug. l. lhc

spring-arm has attached to it. near its outer or free end, a button 0*", see F 1g. 4, the stud.

hole in the main frame-plate (Z which supports the transmitter. ,Hence the button is When said spring-arm is moved by ressure u on the button and disengages t. e belle crank lever the latter will be moved on its pivot by said spring 0 and the arm-c moved todisenge the fstop-pin a as shown inFig. 3. a

' stored-to its normal position to engage the stop-pin a by the operation of the winding- ,shaft as the train operatesfand, as herein shown, said shaft has projecting from it a e bell-crank lever'is-re-' for the purpose, as will be hereinafter described. To make sure that the local sign-ultransmitter has been thus rewound a plate f is provided, see Fig. 5, which is adapted to occupy two different positions, one when the local transmitter is wound and the other when it is unwound, and the box doorhas projecting from its inner side a pin g, which is so disposed with relation to said plate as to engage said plate when the transmitter is unwound and thereby prevent the closing of the door, but which will not engage said bearing said button extending through 1 late in case the transmitter is wound, to

'therehy permit closing of the door.

the winding-shaft. and, as here shown. said ill) llltl plate is mounted loosely on the windingshaft, and has an arm f extcndiilg laterally 1 from it provided with a projection f which is arranged to be engaged by an arm f :secured to the winding-shaft, when said l a j,

l l l i shatt'is wound, to thereby move the plateout of the path of the pin 9. -,\s the windmg-shatt 1s unwound the arm f disengagos the projection f and the plate is thereby permitted to more into the path of the pin g, and is moved by means of a spring f" attached to it. Movement of the plate is limited by a projection f thereon moving in a hole i in the frame-plate. Thus, when the box door is open and the local or drill signal transmitted, the door cannot be again also employed asa pointer to indicate (whether or notthe signal-transmitter is wound aided, havingthercon the word Set and htOWflld it when the transmitter is wound,

Tlhcretorc. even though the plate f is omitted and likewise the pin r 011. the box door the' arm 7' may still .be employed as a usual is employed to let off or otlierwiseoperate said lire-alarm box and the return-s1gnal local alarm circuit 7). .The auxiliary-circuit i perating-derice,[as herein shown, consists of a switch composed of a movable switchqarm and stationary. switch plates. The

ranged on a pivot-stud and held in its nor-' inalqclerated position by a spring 2" sur- .-oundin said. pivot-stud and connected to the arm. pens which successively engage stationary mittcnis wound; h d On the front sideot the frame-plate (Z a mitter has been rewound. The arm f is and an indicating plate 7"" pro i said plate is so disposed with respect to the pointer that the pointer will point directly and will point in an entirely ditt'erent direction when the transmitter is unwound.

indicator to'show whether or not the transcircllit-operating device or switch for an anxiliary-circuit-. i1 is located The auxil-' iary-circnit extends to an auxiliarized firealarm box of any suitable construction and cdntaining an auxiliary-magnet 72 which circuit-operating-device or switch 717-. The auxiliary-circu t la, is independent of the switch-arm is represented at 9' and" is ar- Thc switclnarm bears contactn l switch-plates, three: hem; herein shown. as

switch-a rm. i

The auxiliary-circuit Wires /L, h, lead re spectively to the frame bearing the switcharmand to'the plate 7' and as the switch- 1 arm. normally bears on said plate-z the auxiliary-( -ircnit is normally closed. The bati and said circuit wire includes a heavy the tire-afhirm box. As the switch-arm tery h. in said auxiliary-circuit is very light, so thatnotwithstanding the circuit is closed the armature of the auxiliary-magnet h in the firealarm box'is retracted. -A' circuit- 1 wire j leads from the plate to the auxl iliary-circuit Ii; at one side of the battery "72,

open circuitbattery 7". A circuit-wire j also 1 leads from saidplate irto a huzzerqnagnet In. J .\'circuit-wir-e j fleads. from said buzzer-j magnet .tothe plate 2". l I

normally closed auxiliary circuit. is broken, l but when said plate 2" is engaged a new c1rl gather with its heavy battery j, in series and as result there will be then a strong current onthe nliXlllfllfY-CII'CIHt. resulting inthc opcmiion oil/theauxiliarymagnet in but when the air gredahout the axis of the j As the switch-arm passes from the plate 11*. to the plate the 5 passes from the plate i the buzzer-magnet mediately after it has started. Opening the auxiliary-circuit will cause the armature oi. the buzzer-magnet to retract, it. being carried back by the action of .a flat spring on which it. is mounted on-the frame to which is also connect'e'd onc end of the auxiliary-circuit. When in a normal state of restthe armature of the buzzer-magnet is held in an intermediate position betweent-he pole of its magnetand' a flexible contact spring l0, which is fastened to the plate i,

being released by the magnet its inertia will carry it far enough to make connection to the said contact spring la. This connection will then include the buzzer-magnet in a closed loop circuit including the heavy loattery which may be. traced from spring 71: through plate 2 wire I): to the junction between the two batteries, then through battery j, wire j, plate 2', Wire j magnet 70, wire j, plate switch arm elwhich is then resting on said plate z' and to the frame on which the switch is mounted, thence through the supporting spring to the armature. The magnet will thereupon be'immediately energized to again attract its armature and said armature will -thereafter, buzz between the contact. spring and poles of the magnet This will continue while the switch-arm is held in engagen'ient with the plate i, and will constitute a return-signal to. show that the box has beenproperly started to send its firesignal to the fire-department. to which it is connected. ward and downward projectioni seeFig. -t. which is located above "and projects into the plane of the actuating-device c of the local signal-t/ransmitter. so that when said switch-arm is depressed saidprojection 5 will engage and inn-device to thereby release the localsigrial-transmitter. Thus the local signal transmitter may. be operatedby ay-downward movement of the auxiliary Iircuit switch-arm in additionto being' 'ope'rated independent ly thereof pressing inwa'rd the actuating-device 1: n'nin'nallyi Th'isis for the purpose otcnablingtl'ie loea-l signal to be transmitter] simultaneouslywith the fire-alarm signal in case of'a fire, an'dcalso for pt-a'mittiirg a drill-signal'to bet-ransinittcd independently I of the fire-signal. Said switch-arm i-also has a. forwardrprojection 5 see Fig. 4. which is'adaptedto be engaged by a pivoted actuating-lever herein shown as mounted on the inside of the door (2'. The actuating-lever is armature flies backward after Said switch-a rm 2' has area-rpress inward said. actuat-j I protectingis operated {to v i the actuatin -'lever '11? I j p w .mydmie' andal s': independent1y th t a Instead for arrangingtransmitter and the auxih ranged on the door in such manner that when the door is closed it will occupy a po sition above the projection 2" of the switch arm and when pulled down will vengage and 5 depress said switch-arm to thereby operate theauxiliary-circuit. The' actuating-lever i is arranged-back of an opening through the door so that access to it may be obtained without opening sa'd door, and said opening isjcovered r protected by a frangible.- d'evice ofany suitable construe glass-plate 0 as a cooperative the glass plate tionhaving a partiof it. Upon breaking othe actuating-lever i may be engaged and efleby operate the auxiliarycircuit" transmitter, and both the fire-alarm and the local-alarm or drill-signal ,will be transmitted, and upon opening the. door .and '20 ressing the button rill-signal only will be transmitted. As 's mounted on the door 0 the local-alarm or itwill be o served that when saiddoor is open 'it willbe removedfrom position to. engage" the auxiliary-circuit switch -arm.

Thus it will be seen that when the box door is closed the only act which can be' perfformed by the operator results in trans-- mittin' both the fire-alarm si drill-signal, the closing of the oor control- 91 and the lin such operation.

n'lieu of employing a normally wound Y local s ignal-transmitter I may employ anorvunwound local signal-transmitter winding-lever n, see Fi' 6, which "j Both'wound and unwound si Howell-known. Said win i g- Y. Q;1 "ge'd t0 be engaged by the auxilia fswitch-arm i when the lated; {With this modification of the '3 local signal-transmitter erated with the fire alarm signal er'eof. the: local signal otherwise arranged .-'Q Referring to Fig, y

'Q; the heav .battery circui'tj is ex 'nde i wire 'j om the witch-plate i ijto one side of the local signa -transmitter and-then the other side of said transm'itter' tothe heavy battery 7'', being connected with said battery at an intermediate s point, so as to include a ortion thereof, and said circuit wire ff me I other signal receiving instrument. By .re-

. ferring' to Fig. 8.;the electro-magnet of the 6 bell b may be made magnet and the circuit wire 7' may extend as a higher resistance to a point beyond the heavy battery jto thereby include the .whole of said battery in the local electric circuit and notdestroy its 'eihciency for fire-alarm purposes as the cirnd also -release the local signaL' to be operated manna y to wind tter and to cause it to transmit p arycircuit-switcharm inindependent circuits they .may be;

udes the bell b orbait-operating device for the local signaltransmitter would not be between the switch andthe heavy battery, and hence would not tern would be under continual test; These modifications illustrate difier'ent ways of arrangin the circuits, and is intended to show t at the invention is not .limited to aving thus descri ters Patent is 11 In a. fire-alarm tele vice for actuating one of said circuits independently '2.*In a fire-alarm telegraph apparatus, the-combination of two electricc1rcuits, a signal-box into which said circuits lead, comprising a case havin a door, a circuitin said case, an actuating-device for actuatnal-transmitter indeoperating the local si tially as described. the combination with an auxiliarized si a1- box and an auxiliary-circuit connected t erewit'h, of a signal-box comprising1 a case into which said auxiliary-circuit lea s, and havin a door, a local signal-transmitter conmitter, when the door is closed,'and means for actuating the local signal transmitter independently when the door is open, sub"- stantially as described-5 y In a fire-"alarmielegraph apparatus, the combination with an auxiliarized si albox and an auxiliary-circuit connegted t erean particular arrangement of the circuits. I ed my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure byLetv aph apparatus, the combination of two e ectric-circuits, a circuit-operating device for each circuit, an actuating-device for actuating both' circuit-- foperatin devices, and an actuating-device indepen entof the aforesaid actuating-de-Y of th'e other, substantially as de-- ing both circuit-operating. devices, accessi- J the local signal-transmitter and means for" tained in said case, adapted to operate a local alarm circuit, means for operating said auxiliary-circuit and said local signal-transj revent the switch from operating 'the auxiliarypircuit. By this arrangement bothf batterles and branches of the auxiliary. sys:

operating-device for eac circuit contained 4. In. a fire-alarm telegraph apparatus,

pendently of the auxi iary circuit, substanl g with, of a signal-box comprising a case into 1 eea ia whichsaid auxiliary-circuit loads, and having a door, means contained in said case and controlled-by said doorfor operating said auxiliarymircuit, a local signal-transmitter also contained in said case adapted to operthe auxiliary-circuit actuating-means when the dooris closed, and accessible when, the

box, an auxiliar I of position to engage said switch, a local.

- 1 6. In a fire-alarm telegraph door is open to be operated independently thereof, substantially as described? the combination with an auxihariz I si I circuit connected t erewith, of a signalox COIIIPIlSlIlgfl case, 1nto which said auxiliar -circuit leads, and having a door", a switc for said auxiliary-circult contalned 1n sald case, an, actuatingdevice for said switch arranged onthe doorwhich is movable by the door into and out signal transmitter also contained in said case, adapted to o erate an independent electric-circuit, an an actuating: device therefor, independent of said switch, but arranged to be operated by the movable member thereof, substantially as described. 7, In a fire-alarm telegraph apparatus, a combination of two electric-circuits, a signal-box having a door, and having a switch for operating one of-said circuits and also having a box-number signal-transmitter for operating the other circuit, and two actuators, one for operating said transmitter and the other for operating both said switch and transmitter, of which the latter only is accessible when the box door is closed and of which the former is accessible only when the box door is open, substantially as described. 8. In a signal-box having a door, and having two circuit-operating-devices for operating two independent circuits, and. two actuators, one adapted when operated to operate one of said circuit-operating-devices and transmit a signal, and the other adapted. when operated to operate both circuit-operating devices and transmitboth signals, the

, transmission of a signal incident to the operation of one circuit-operating device only being prevented by the closin of the box- Y door, substantially as describe "combination with an auxi into which both said circuits ead, and havi cuit, means for operating said local si 9. In a fire-alarm telegraph apparatus, the

ap aratus ed a1:

ing a door, a local signal-transmitter contained in said case for said local alarm-cirtransmitter, and means for o crating 0th said auxiliary-circuit and sa1 local alarm- 1 circuit, the operation of said local signaltransmitter .only being prevented by theI closing of the box door, substantially as de- 1 scribe 10. In a signal-box, a case, an auxiliarycircuit switch, in said case, an actuating-dc vice for said switch, combined with a local signal-transmitter also in said case, an actuating-device therefor, independent of said iliary-circuit switch in said case, the movable member of which 1S arranged to engage and operate said actuating-device, an actuating-device for said movable switch member arranged. on the door and accessible at the outside thereof, and a frangible protecting device for said actuating device, substantially as described. v

12. In a signal-box, a case, an auxiliary circuit switch in said case comprising stationary switch-plates and a movable switcharn 1, an actuating-device for said switcharm, combined with a local signal-transmitter also in said case, and an actuating device therefor arranged in the path of movement of said switch-arm, substantially as described.

13. In asignal-box, a case having a door, an auxiliary-circuit switch in said case com prising stationary switch-plates and a movable switch-arm connected with the auxiliar circuit, an actuating lever for said switch-arm, arranged 'on-the door aniline-,-

cessible at the outside thereof, combined with a local signal-transmitter also in said" case, and an actuating device therefor, which is disposed in the path of movement of said switch-arm, and which is accessible when the door is open to be independently operated, substantia lyas describe 14. In a signal-box, a case, an auxiliary circuit switch insaid case comprising stationary switch-plates anda movable switcharm, an actuating-device for said switch- A arm, combined wlth a local signaltransmitter" also in said case, a locking-lever therefor, a releasing-arm for said lockin lever, and a button on said-arm located in the path of movement of said switch-arm, substantially as described. I

15. In a signal-box, a case, an auxiliarycircuit switch in said case comprising stationary switch-plates and a movable switcharm having a forwardly and downwardly extended projection, and an actuating-lever engaging said projection, combined with a local signal-transmitter also in said'case, and an actuating-device therefor arranged in the path of movement of said projection, substantially as described.

16. In a signal-box, a case having a door, an auxiliary-circuit switch in said case comprising stationary switch-plates and a movable switch arm, a pivoted actuating-lever restore said locking-lever to its locking-p0- on the door-arranged to engage said swltcharm and a frangible protecting plate for i scribed.

,-17. In a signal-box, a signaling-train havl ing a stop-pin on one of its wheels, a locking-lever engaged by said stop-pin, a spring for movingv said lever to disengage the stop:

pm, a sprlng-acting releasing arm for releasing said locking-lever, permitting said spring to act, having a button by which it may be depressed, substantially as described.

18. In a signal-box a si 1 aling-train hav- 'ing a stop-pin on one of wheels, a locksignaling-train, when the train operates, to

lever to disengage the sto said actuating-lever, substantially as. de-,

sition, substantially as described.

19. In a signal-box a case having a door, a pin on the inside of the door, a signaling- 1 train contained in said case adapted to be normally wound, a plate, and means connected with the winding-shaft for moving said plate out of position to be engaged by the pin on the door, and independent means for moving said plate into position to be engaged by the pmon the door when it is disengaged b the means connected with the winding-sha ,substantiall as described.

In testimony whereof, have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscriblngwltnesses.

\Vitnesses:

H. B. DAVIS, B. J. NOYES. 

